Cancer

Leading up to Valentine’s Day, jewelers, florists and fancy restaurants all fight for your business.

They each stress the importance of showing your sweetheart how much you care on what many consider the most romantic day of the year.

But when you or your loved one is battling mesothelioma, you may not have the energy, the funds or the desire to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day.

When mesothelioma intrudes into a marriage, a couple may feel like they have gone from husband or wife to patient or caregiver. This has its own set of challenges and adjustments.

As a couple shifts gears toward battling mesothelioma, they may put nurturing their relationship on the back burner to focus on fighting the cancer and managing treatment side effects.

I found that some marital relationships are strengthened by the experience of fighting cancer together.

But many couples find the stressors that accompany a mesothelioma diagnosis can negatively affect their relationship.

Financial worries, fatigue, social isolation, decreased libido and communication problems while dealing with mesothelioma can strain a partnership at a time when couples want their relationship to be at its most resilient.

It is no wonder that couples fighting mesothelioma have enough on their plate without the pressure of trying to make Valentine’s Day special.

Little Gestures Can Go a Long Way

As a couples therapist, I found that the happiest couples don’t save up their romantic gestures for one or two special days of the year such as Valentine’s Day or their anniversary.

They let their partner know they are loved and appreciated on a regular basis.

These caring behaviors don’t have to be elaborate gestures that require a lot of money or preparation.

You can do little things each day to show your loved one you are thinking about them.

It is the little things that keep a relationship strong. It is the tone of your voice when speaking to your partner. It is the private jokes you share that no one else gets. It’s saying to your partner “I appreciate your help,” or listening to their fears or worries without trying to fix the problems or give false reassurance.

Give your loved one a foot rub without being asked. Make your partner their favorite homemade meal and let them indulge.

Simple gestures speak volumes.

Don’t Let Valentine’s Day Create Added Stress

When a couple is dealing with a life-threatening diagnosis such as mesothelioma, the last thing they need is to feel pressured to live up to an unrealistic expectation on Valentine’s Day.

Take a moment and reflect upon what your partner loves about you and appreciates about your time together.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to let your loved one know you love them and are thinking about them on Valentine’s Day.

And make sure they know how much you care the other 364 days of the year.

3 Ways Cancer Can Impact Someone’s Mental Health

10/19/2017 10:01 am ET Updated 18 hours ago

Because cancer affects more than just the body, survivors often experience a variety of mental health challenges after a cancer diagnosis.

Imagine being told that all the things you plan, all the moments you hope to have and all the achievements you aspire to may not happen. That’s what it is like when you hear a doctor say, “You have cancer.”

While many people know others who have battled or are currently battling some form of cancer, hearing those words never gets easier. Just because medical advancements have greatly improved the chances of remission and a long, healthy life doesn’t mean that diagnosis won’t drastically change your life. Because that’s the thing about life-changing diagnoses like cancer: They change everything.

When people imagine the experience of a typical cancer patient, what often comes to mind are physical symptoms like hair loss, nausea and fatigue. However, some of the biggest challenges a patient and their loved ones have to face are mental.

“When I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, I had a six-week-old baby. I wondered whether I’d see her grow up, whether she’d remember me when I was gone,” my mom explains. “I was told to get my affairs in order and hope for a year. What did that mean for my family? How would my 12-year-old son cope?” Fortunately, my mom beat the odds and is now entering her 24th year of cancer survivorship.

The types of thoughts my mom had after receiving her diagnosis can take a toll on a patient’s mental health and overall well-being, according to Dana Nolan, a licensed mental health counselor in central Florida.

Being diagnosed [with cancer] does not make someone mentally ill. But, in my experience, most cancer patients develop symptoms of anxiety and depression at some point during or after their treatment. While it is normal to experience mental health challenges, it is not necessary to simply suffer through it.

No two people respond the same way to difficult news, but there are several common mental health issues that may develop after any type of cancer diagnosis.

Cancer survivors and their loved ones may experience anxiety, depression and grief at various times of a cancer battle.

Anxiety

Cancer offers plenty of chances to worry both during and after cancer treatment. After you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, anxious thoughts and worries like these may become impossible to ignore:

Is my prognosis accurate?

What if I made the wrong treatment decision?

What if my next scan shows the cancer has grown?

The last question represents a special category of anxiety nicknamed “scanxiety” by the cancer community. In an article on Medscape, author Nick Mulcahy explains, “Scanxiety is cancer patients’ fear and worry associated with imaging, both before and after a test (before the results are revealed).”

It’s normal to worry about the future sometimes, but when those worries begin to impede your ability to fully live your life, it’s time to ask for help.

A mental health counselor or therapist can help you determine what you are dealing with and how you can manage it. They may also recommend anti-anxiety medications such as Ativan or Xanax.

Depression

Depression affects an estimated 15% to 25% of cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute. Patients and their loved ones may develop depression because of the diagnosis itself, anxiety about the future, a changing self-image or even the side effects of certain cancer treatments.

It’s important to note that depression is not the same thing as feeling sad. Clinical depression often manifests in mood swings, fatigue, feelings of emptiness that last for more than a few days and feelings of helplessness or worthlessness. This may require medical attention.

Depression can affect all those around, not just the patient. Melanie Ball, who lost her dad to mesothelioma in 1993 when she was only 14 years old, also had to witness her mother sink into a deep depression that lasted for years after his death. Melanie’s mother chose to suffer in silence, but no one should have to face a life-changing illness, such as cancer or depression, alone.

If you or someone you love is suffering from depression, there is help. Many kinds of medical professionals can treat this condition through counseling, therapy or medication. Joining a support group can also make a big difference for those affected by cancer. In fact, studies show people with terminal cancers who participate in support groups have higher survival rates and increased quality of life.

Many people experience grief at various times of a cancer battle. It’s not uncommon for people to grieve before a loss actually happens.

Grief

People may grieve at many different times during and after a cancer battle, and grief is often shared by a patient’s entire support network. Lorraine Kember, a mesothelioma widow, explains how a cancer diagnosis can start the grieving process:

Anticipatory grief is the name given to the mix of emotions experienced when we are living with the expectation of a personal loss and grieving because of it. Anticipatory grief is particularly relevant to anyone who has received a terminal medical diagnosis and for people who love and care for that person.

Living with the expectation of death or loss can cause us to experience the same array of emotions that develop after the loss actually happens, including shock, denial, helplessness, sorrow, anger and physical pain.

While grief is normal during and after a cancer battle, you don’t have to grieve alone. Spend time with your family; they may be experiencing the same thing. Seek out grief support groups, which are often available at local hospices. And above all, remember to take things one day at a time.

There are a wide range of thoughts and emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis that are completely normal. However, these thoughts and feelings may not feel normal because you may not have felt them before. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and relationship challenges very typically occur along with all the effects of cancer or its treatment. However, discussions about sex are often neglected by health professionals and patients.

Many people are not comfortable discussing sex, especially cancer patients who are dealing with life-changing issues and have more stressful and life-threatening concerns on their minds.

But should the topic of sex be equally important to those with cancer? Of course.

I have often found in my work as a mental health counselor, that couples are very interested in learning about how to have sex comfortably and safely during and after cancer treatment.

A cancer patient and their partner often have questions about sexual intimacy due to a loss in the cancer sufferer’s libido (sex drive) or negative sexual functions that can result from the cancer treatment. As a result, they look for advice from their doctor and/or other health care professionals to gain a better understanding of the affects of treatment and how it affects their sex drive so they can continue to enjoy having sex as they did before diagnosis with cancer.

The difficulty with talking about sex, falls not only upon the patient, but upon doctors too. Many doctors will often avoid the subject or wait for the patient to raise it. Yet, a cancer patients and their caregivers often wants information to understand how treatment will affect their sexual desire and function.

One study suggests, that: “Health professionals may also believe their discussions [about sex] may be construed as disrespectful and inappropriate by the patient, with research suggesting that gender, age, culture, socioeconomic factors, and religion all contribute to health professionals’ avoidance of the topic…” (Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2009).

In my experience as a counselor, whom has provided therapy for cancer patients, it’s easy to understand how concerns about sex may go unattended to because both patients and physicians are unwilling to engage in dialogue about the topic.

Raising this issue with your doctor is important because many newly diagnosed patients and their partners may not be aware of the safety issues involving sex, cancer, and treatment.

Whether or not your doctor raises the issue, you should be brave and raise the issues and questions you have about cancer treatment and sex.

As a guide, here are some helpful questions in which you can ask your doctor about sex and mesothelioma:

Do I need to take precautions during intercourse while I am on chemotherapy?

How will treatment affect my energy levels and libido?

How soon after surgery or a procedure can I have sex?

Is it safe for me to physically exert myself during sex while I am on treatment?

Have other patients receiving the same treatment reported side effects that impact sex?

Is oral sex safe during treatment?

How will treatment affect my hormone levels?

Will I be able to have children after I finish treatment?

How will treatment affect my fertility?

When you or a loved one are battling cancer, so many things do not feel normal. Sometimes, sex can return some sense of normalcy. It can also improve a couple’s quality of life during this difficult time. It may take some courage to raise concerns and questions about sex to your doctor, which may not be easy, but most patients find the payoff in having discussions about sex while battling cancer is well worth the effort.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society presented Dana with the 2013 Healthcare Volunteer of the Year Award. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. They fund blood cancer research around the world. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families who suffer from leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and Myeloma. Dana, a licensed mental health counselor, who specializes in counseling for cancer patients and other patients with serious illness provides patient and family education programs to the LLS. She is honored to receive such a special thanks from a great organization.

Mental Health Counselor, Dana Nolan will be the guest speaker for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The “Survivorship 101 Getting Back to Normal After Cancer Treatment” seminar is being held at the Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 610 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, Florida.

This is part of an educational program series provided by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, that provides mutual support and education for family members. If you or a loved one have a diagnosis of Leukemia, Hodgkins Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Myeloma or Myelodysplastic Syndrome, this seminar will provide you with information about Survivorship and to help you learn strategies to cope with the common emotional, physical, and social challenges that cancer survivors face. This is a great opportunity to discuss anxiety and concern with others who share the same experiences.

Dana Nolan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is a member of Healthy Living Counseling which provides counseling services for cancer and other serious illnesses.

Pre-registration/RSVP by November 13, 2013 for this FREE Cancer Seminar provided by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is required. Please refer to the flyer below for more information.

Therapist Dana Nolan and Dietitian Tejal Parekh will be offering presentations at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The Blood Cancer Symposium is being held at the Citrus Club in Orlando, Florida.

This is part of an educational program series provided by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, that provides mutual support and education for family members. If you or a loved one have a diagnosis of Leukemia, Hodgkins Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Myeloma or Myelodysplastic Syndrome, this symposium will provide you with information about making Healthy Food Choices in the Fight Against Cancer, Cancer Treatment, and Survivorship (getting back to normal after cancer treatment). This is a great opportunity to discuss anxiety and concern with others who share the same experiences.

Dana Nolan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Tejal Parekh is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. Both professionals are members of Healthy Living Counseling which provides counseling services for cancer and other serious illnesses.

Pre-registration for this FREE Cancer Symposium provided by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is required. Please refer to the flyer below for more information.

This is a common question and an important one. Sugar, in its most simplest form, glucose does feed cancer cells just as it does all cells, healthy or not. It is the fuel needed for our body. To stop eating all foods containing sugar would not only be impractical ( as most foods are broken down in the body to glucose) but would also limit this fuel needed to power our healthy cells, including our brain.

When we eat food high in simple sugars, our body releases insulin, a growth hormone that takes care of the excess glucose in our body. It is believed that excess insulin may promote the growth of cancer cells and therefore our goal is to stabilize our glucose levels that will in turn, stabilize our insulin levels. How do we do this?

Essentially, we want to follow a diabetic diet. Eat small, frequent meals and snacks every 3 hours or so and avoid excess simple, processed sugars such as sodas, candy, cookies and cakes. We also want to eat more complex carbohydrates, i.e. whole grains. A meal containing protein, fat and/or fiber will help to slow down sugar absorption resulting in a slow rise in blood glucose levels and therefore a slow rise in insulin levels.

For more information or to clarify anything in this article, don’t hesitate to contact your Healthy Living Dietitian, Tejal Parekh, MS, RD/LDN. Tejal provides services related to healthy eating for Cancer Patients, as well as, for people with heart disease, and other serious illnesses.

As a counselor who specializes in working with patients struggling with serious illnesses, I get many questions from caregivers about what they should say or do that is helpful and supportive. We are all very different in terms of what we find supportive when we are sick. Some people like a lot of support, reassurance and offers of practical assistance. Other people prefer to be treated completely normal (as if there is no health crisis at all) by their family and friends UNLESS they ask for assistance. There is not one right way to support someone you love when they have cancer. There is just the way that works best for them AND you!

My suggestion is to ask your loved one HOW you can best support them. Then, listen to what they have to say. Another good option is to really think about what you can do for them and offer specifics. Do you have the ability to drive them to a doctor/treatment appointment one day a week? Are you willing to mow their lawn while they are in treatment? Are you able to bring a family meal to them every other week? Are you available for them to call 24/7 if they just want to talk or cry? Many people are reluctant to ask for help when they have cancer because they don’t know how much is too much to ask. If you offer something specific, then there is no question in their mind what help you mean when you make the offer of assistance or support.

One last suggestion is to resist the temptation to tell your loved one with cancer to “always be positive and strong.” It is easy to feel positive when someone gets good news from the doctor or they are having a side-effect free day. But, when they are really struggling with side effects or just got news that their treatment isn’t working as planned, then pressure to “be positive” doesn’t feel helpful and often leads the person with cancer to feel as if they are failing as a patient. Our loved ones with cancer are entitled to every single emotion that accompanies their experience (the good, the bad and the ugly!) We can best support them by just listening to what they are feeling and accepting their sadness, tears or anger at their current situation just as we would listen to them and accept their emotions when they are sharing good news or joy that their cancer is in remission!

Dana is very friendly and the most understanding counselor I have met. She doesn’t scold you harshly about your flaws, is easy to talk to, and really LISTENS! I have been to some in the past, who didn’t really listen to me or understand how I feel. Since I have been seeing Dana, that has all changed. She doesn’t always have answers, but encourages me to think more critically about how I am feeling and helps me to understand myself Continue Reading

I attended a free cancer talk in Winter Park many years ago with a friend who had cancer. Dana was the speaker at the event. Last year, I found out I had cancer. I was scared to death and had so many questions. I remembered she was very compassionate at the cancer talk when I went with my friend and looked her up. I made an appointment with her right away. She has been so helpful and knows so much Continue Reading

Dana helped me work through my anxiety. She taught me ways to relax and change my self-talk. I wouldn’t have gotten through my cancer treatment without her help and guidance because my anxiety was paralyzing. Thank you, Dana!” C.B., Daytona Beach

Dana has helped me get my PTSD under control. She offers EMDR, and because of the progress I have made with her so far, I will be trying that once I am more ready. Dana is very patient and compassionate towards me and my concerns and fears. She has taught me grounding techniques which are helping with my PTSD and anxiety. Kelly M, Altamonte Springs.

“I have never been to a counselor before, but things in my life had become so horrible, I decided to give it a try. I was a little nervous about going, but finally got the nerve to call and do the short phone consult that Dana at Healthy Living Counseling offers. It was the best thing I ever did. Dana was super nice and understanding of my concerns. So, I scheduled an appointment and have been seeing her ever since. Continue Reading

I was tired of feeling like I have been stepped on by others all the time and just do what others want. While reading online, I found an article about assertiveness training. I read more about it and thought this might be for me. I looked up counselors in my area, and found Dana to be closest to my work. So, I gave it a try. Dana is excellent at what she does, and helped me learn to say No Continue Reading

I just got out of a really bad abusive relationship. Dana has helped me understand and cope with the emotional and physical abuse I had happen. I couldn’t have picked a better counselor. She has been very understanding and helpful in letting me know the many resources and options which are available to me, that I didn’t know existed. My Ex is still stalking and harassing me. Dana has made me feel better about myself and helped restore my energy Continue Reading

” We thought that we were headed for divorce, but wanted to try couples therapy first. With Dana’s help, we were able to start to connect again and very slowly put the pieces of our marriage back together. She gave us tools to communicate better and challenged us to open up to each other again.” A.S. and G.S., Longwood.

My boyfriend and I fight all the time, we can never agree on simple things. As a last resort before breaking up, we decided to do couples counseling. It was the best choice we could have made. We have learned to understand each other better and to communicate with one another in a better ways. Dana has been our guide. She saved our relationship.” Linda & John, Longwood.

EMDR is a very unique experience! Dana really helped me decrease my anxiety levels with this therapeutic tool. Dana is attentive, supportive, knowledgeable and highly skilled. She is friendly, sincere and very caring. I am grateful for her guidance. Highly recommended! VC, Windermere

Most people don’t think they need counseling. I was one of those people. It wasn’t until I had a very traumatic event that I was having trouble coping with that led me to Dana. A good friend had recommended her to me. Dana has helped me so much, that I can’t begin to even explain. She is definitely someone I would recommend! She is very compassionate and understanding about my experiences. She has helped me find myself again.” Rebecca, Altamonte Continue Reading

“Dana always has a professional, compassionate, and open mindset for all situations. She is a comfortable and safe person to speak with, and approaches each session with encouragement. In particular, her training and specialty in EMDR was a very helpful process. She truly takes the time to hear your heart, and knows the right ways to help you cope. Her expertise allows her to assess a good pace for your healing, and finding the most resourceful ways of tackling your Continue Reading